In this episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, Marcin Lewandowski sits down with Charlie MacGregor, Founder & CEO of The Social Hub – a bold reimagination of what hospitality, connection, and community can look like in the 21st century.
Starting from a personal desire to improve student housing, Charlie went on to build a hospitality powerhouse that blends hotels, coworking, student residences, coliving, events, and social impact – all under one brand.
We dive deep into:
– The origin story behind The Social Hub
– Why belonging is the most underrated business model
– How diverse communities can thrive in shared spaces
– The role of design in shaping behavior and connection
– How to build spaces where people actually want to connect
– The future of hospitality
This conversation isn’t just about hotels. It’s about how we live, work, learn – and what happens when you design spaces to bring people together on purpose.
Takeaways
– Hospitality is evolving from service to connection.
– Design is not just aesthetic — it’s behavioral architecture.
– Purpose and profit can scale together – if culture leads the way.
– The best growth stories are rooted in human transformation.
– The future of hospitality is human and hyper-local.
Chapters
00:00 The Vision Behind The Social Hub
02:50 Creating Spaces for Connection
05:39 Engineering a Sense of Belonging
08:09 Designing for Local and Global
10:57 Navigating Growth and Sustainability
13:35 Community Impact Stories
16:11 Future Aspirations and Innovations
18:41 Reflections on Hospitality and Leadership
If you haven't already.... Subscribe to the EU-Startups Podcast here on YouTube!
Or follow along on your other favourite podcast platforms... Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4QU85dN... / Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast...
Follow EU-Startups on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/eu-startups-menlo-media/
Visit our Website:
https://www.eu-startups.com/
Subscribe to our Newsletter:
https://www.eu-startups.com/newsletter/
#startup #hospitality #travel